-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- `` What kind of sneakers is she going to have to wear ? ''

This is one of many questions going through my head . It is September 2003 , and I just found out my daughter is going to be born with Down Syndrome . I am only 16 years old , just days away from my 17th birthday .

I am a good student , sister and shoe lover . -LRB- Hence the reason why sneaker choice would be one of my great fears about this baby 's diagnosis . -RRB- I do not want to deal with Velcro versus ties or orthopedic shoes ; I want to pick out the latest trends and styles for her .

With this diagnosis , I am now faced with the challenge of redefining every goal and dream I had for my daughter . I am scared , naturally . My friends are all out celebrating senior year , and here I am asking myself stupid questions .

After a few agonizing days I realize she is my child . I love her . Does it really matter what kind of shoes she has on ? It does n't .

This child is n't even born yet , and she has already taught me a lesson . I no longer care about shoes and shopping ; I just want my baby to live . I want her to be born healthy and be happy .

So I make up my mind that just because she has Down Syndrome , I do n't have to give up all of my dreams for her . I can still buy her cool sneakers and shoes ; we just might need to look harder for ones that offer support as well .

Opinion : Do n't label people with Down syndrome

A month goes by and Jaylin is born -- a healthy 4-pound , 12-ounce baby girl with a head full of black hair . She was born with a heart defect , but it gets corrected six months after birth . A little while after that , she begins wearing her new pink Nike crib shoes .

Most babies grow out of those kinds of shoes soon after birth , but not my little Jaybird . Down Syndrome can slow physical and intellectual development . She rocked those shoes for a good couple of months .

These days , Jaylin is doing well . She goes shoe shopping with me and her current pick is a multicolored pair of Nike high tops . I do n't think she truly cares about shoes but just enjoys spending the time with me picking them out .

She teaches me and her teachers more than we teach her . I am so happy that I was blessed with her and that she changed my views on life .

Had she not been born with Down Syndrome I do n't think I would be as good a person as I am now . I currently organize a Buddy Walk with some other moms , and we use funds from the walk to donate care packages to families facing hospital stays due to complications of Down Syndrome .

Jaylin is almost 6 , and this year was our fifth Buddy Walk . I started the walks in honor of her , and it is because of her that I can reach out to other families now . Having a baby with Down Syndrome made that 17-year-old me grow up fast but strong .

Jaylin is such a special child . She takes her time when most of us want her to rush , and she is always the one smiling when everyone else is melting down .

She will not let the world define her . She will keep doing what she loves , in great shoes , just to make me happy .

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Down Syndrome is a genetic condition that causes delays in development

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The syndrome occurs in one in every 691 live births

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There are more than 400,000 people living with Down Syndrome in the United States